Member Problems

Unfortunately, disagreements between members can arise. Each of the
train clubs provides a mechanism to redress these grievances. The following are excerpts from the
train club rules and regulations. They are provided as a guide only. If there
are any discrepancies, the official train club rules and regulations supercedes this
page.

Note: ToyTrains.info cannot provide any assistance in any
transactions and has absolutely no responsibility for any transactions.
Please see the Terms of Use page, using the link at the bottom of each
page, for additional information.

TCA: Train Collectors Association

Bylaws (as amended to October 31, 2001)

ARTICLE II - MEMBERSHIP

Section 6. Complaints - Disciplinary Action

"A. Any member in good standing may file with the President of the
Association a complaint on transactions or dealings involving trains
against another member or members of the Association or against an
Applicant to the Association. The President shall forward the complaint to
the Membership Committee with copy to the Secretary. The Membership
Chairperson shall promptly notify the Respondent. After a preliminary
investigation by the Membership Committee; if necessary, a copy of the
complaint will be sent to the respondent by certified mail, return receipt
requested; a second copy by regular mail. The Respondent shall have 30
days from the date of mailing of the certified mail notice to reply to the
Chairperson, settling forth his/her position. Failure to reply shall be
deemed an admission of all allegations set forth in the complaint. If the
Respondent contests the charge(s), the Membership Committee shall have the
responsibility to investigate the complaint to the best of its ability.
Their findings shall be presented to the President of the Association. The
Membership Committee may make recommendations to the President of the
Association. The Membership committee may make recommendations to the
President for action on the complaint, however, the President's decision
on whether to proceed shall prevail. If disciplinary action appears
necessary, the Chairman of the Membership Committee shall present the
complaint and the findings of the Membership Committee to the Board of
Directors for decision. The Respondent shall be offered the right to
present his/her position to the Board of Directors at the same time the
complaint is presented to the Board of Directors. The decision of the
Board of Directors shall be final and binding on all persons."

"B. The Board of Directors may take such action, legal or otherwise, as
necessary, to protect the Association and to enforce its By-Laws including
suspension or termination of membership."

"C. Disciplinary Action shall be in the form of termination of
membership or suspension of membership from the Association."

"1. Termination of membership shall mean permanent barring from any
Association function and elimination from the membership rolls and shall
be by action of the Board of Directors."

"2. Suspension of membership shall mean exclusion from any Association
function, and exclusion of receiving Association publications for a period
of time and other conditions so determined by the Board of Directors."

"3. Any person whose membership is suspended or terminated may not
attend any TCA function."

"D. The decision of the President and the Board of Directors of the
Association on any matter of complaints shall be considered in the best
interest of the membership of the Association and not subject to any
personal liability."

"E. A person seeking to re-apply for membership after disciplinary
action can apply no sooner than three (3) years after termination to the
Chairman of the Membership Committee. That Committee or a minimum of 5 of
its members, after reviewing the application, may interview the candidate
at a mutually agreed upon time and place to submit its report and
recommendation to the full Board of Directors which shall act upon it at
next scheduled Board of Directors meeting. The applicant may not reapply
more frequently than once per year after first re-application. If
application is approved member will be given a new membership number."

"F. All dealings between members concerning trains and related items,
whether as an individual or as owner or employee of a business shall
conform with the provisions of this section."

LCCA: Lionel Collectors Club of America

Constitutional Bylaws (as of July 31, 2002)

Article
III - Membership

Section 5. Complaints:

"A. Any member in good standing may file with the Immediate Past
President (I.P.P.) of LCCA any complaint regarding transactions, dealings
or relationships with any other LCCA member. All complaints must be in
writing and complete details must be included. No verbal complaints will
be considered under any circumstance."

"B. The Board of Directors may take such action as it deems necessary
to resolve complaints that reach the Board of Directors. The action of the
Board of Directors is final. The decision of the Board of Directors on any
matter of complaint shall be considered in the best interest of the
membership of LCCA and shall not subject the Board of Directors or any
member thereof to personal liability."

Section 6. Disciplinary Action:

"Actions and performance of members that are not in the best interest
of the Club and its membership shall be grounds for termination of a
membership. Termination of membership shall mean permanent barring from
any LCCA function and elimination from the membership roll and shall be by
action of the Board of Directors. Grounds for termination of a membership
could include and are not limited to the following: nonpayment of dues,
dishonesty, fraudulent misrepresentation, malfeasance of office,
conviction of a felony, issuance of insufficient funds checks, dishonor or
disgrace of the Club."

LOTS: Lionel Operating Train Society

Constitution (as of June 2000)

ARTICLE III MEMBERSHIP

Section 5: Complaints

"A. Any member in good standing may file with the club's Vice-President
a complaint regarding any transaction, dealing or relationship with any
other LOTS member. Complaints involving any activity that may subject
members or officers to discipline including (but not limited to),
non-payment of dues, dishonesty, fraudulent misrepresentation, malfeasance
of office, conviction of felony, issuance of "insufficient funds" checks,
and acts bringing dishonor or disgrace to the club, shall be made to the
Vice President. All such complaints shall be made in writing. The
Vice-President or his designee shall immediately contact the member
against whom the complaint was filed, in writing, and request a response
within 30 days. The Vice-President or his designee shall attempt to
mediate the complaint within 30 days after receipt of the response. If the
complaint is not successfully mediated within this time period, or if no
response is received, the Vice-President shall recommend appropriate
action to the Board of Directors and refer the results of his
investigation, including any documentation received from the parties, to
the President for conveyance to the Board of Directors for final
disposition. In the event the Vice President is a party to the dispute,
the complaint shall be filed with the President who shall appoint a
neutral member of the Board of Directors to fulfill the Vice President's
responsibilities hereunder."

Section 6: Disciplinary Action

"A. Actions, conduct and/or performance of members that are not in the
best interest of the club and its membership shall be grounds for removal
from office and/or termination of membership. Termination of a membership
shall mean barring from any and all LOTS functions and elimination from
the membership rolls. Grounds for removal from office or termination of a
membership shall include, but are not limited to, the following:
non-payment of dues; dishonesty; fraudulent misrepresentation; malfeasance
of office; gross failure to perform the duties of office; conviction of a
felony; issuance of "insufficient funds" checks; and acts bringing
dishonor or disgrace to the club."

"B. A membership in LOTS may be terminated for good cause by an
affirmative vote of four of the five directors after the Board has
reviewed the Vice-President's recommendation and all supporting
documentation."

"C. Any officer or director may be removed from office for good cause
by an affirmative vote of four of the five directors after the Board has
reviewed the Vice-President's recommendation and all supporting
documentation."

"D. The Board of Directors may take whatever action it deems
appropriate relative to any complaint that reaches the Board of Directors.
The action of the Board of Directors is final. The decision of the Board
of Directors on any complaint shall be considered in the best interests of
the membership of LOTS and shall not subject the Board of Directors, or
any member thereof, to personal liability."

"E. A disciplined member may be reinstated to full membership, under
such terms and conditions as the Board of Directors deems appropriate,
upon the affirmative vote of four of five directors."

TTOS: Toy Train Operating Society

ByLaws (TTOS 1999 Directory)

Article II Members

Section 6. Complaints and Disciplinary Action.

"Any member may file with the National President of the Society a
written complaint regarding transactions or dealings by another member
involving toy trains and their related items. National President shall
appoint a committee of three (3) from among the members of the Board of
Directors of the Society to investigate such complaints and forward their
findings to the Board of Directors. This committee shall have at least one
member of the Executive Committee appointed to it. The National Board of
Directors shall review the findings and recommendations of the Complaint
Committee, conduct such further investigations as it deems necessary, and
give the members against whom the complaint was lodged a reasonable
opportunity to a hearing. Thereafter, the National Board of Directors shall
render its decision, which decision shall be final and binding. Such
decision of the National Board of Directors may provide for disciplinary
action in the form of suspension of membership in the Society for a
specified, definite period of time or in the form of expulsion from the
Society. The Complaint Committee serves at the discretion of the National
President either for a specific complaint or for complaints for a
specified period of time."